Hi there. It seems you’ve walked in on me freaking out a little, there, and so I want to assure you that everything is just FINE with me, mentally speaking. No nervous breakdowns or anything like that. Heh heh. Yup...just hunky dory, over here. Oh, all that flop sweat? I normally sweat this much. Yeah. Just an overactive exocrine system. It’s certainly not because I’m about to embark on a brand new journey that will lay bare my vulnerable gooey areas to the potential abuse of the entire world. That would be silly.

*clasps hands behind back and whistles*

Yup. So...alright then.

Oh, speaking of that, I release a book in TWO WEEKS. Last August, after I dropped my daughter off at school for her first full day, came home, and sat down at my desk with that big blank whiteness of my word processor staring at me, I don’t think I ever could have envisioned this moment. I had a plan to complete THE NOVEL, but I think that only most of me was convinced that I could actually do it. Thankfully, I think I’m decent at closing up the roof to block off the glaring, mostly ethereal impossibilities that I conjure for myself. I can mostly just stick my fingers in my ears and “la la la” the specter of failure right out of my head. Denial, right? It’s not just a river in my brain.

So yeah...being here is pretty surreal. I certainly have developed a healthy respect for the editorial process, considering how many mistakes that I and others have found over the past month. But little by little, those have been ironed out, and unless I’ve missed something massive I think the book’s looking pretty good. I have to send out BIG, BIG thanks so my advance copy readers, who have ensured that the quality of the typographical packaging of this thing is so much greater than I could have ever assured, by myself. They are a truly awesome group of people, and I’ll never forget the help and support they’ve given me!

What’s more, by and large they like the book! I’ve had a lot of positive comments, which has given me a ton of confidence going into the launch. Now, granted, a “good book” doesn’t necessarily ensure a torrent of book sales...but, it doesn’t hurt either, now does it? Whatever happens, I think I can walk away from this first effort a pretty happy guy. Smiley-winky face. #crushingfailureismydayjob

Coming up on it. Gathering myself for the wave. Boy, don’t time just fly by?